"Since the plan has already failed, there's no need for me to keep wasting time 'entangling' with you two~"
After saying that, Ariana even blew Red a kiss, then ordered Arbok to spit out a dense cloud of smoke, instantly obscuring Red's side of vision.
Kadabra reacted quickly, using Psychic to compress the spreading smoke, but Ariana's whereabouts were nowhere to be found.
The original ice cave was left only with traces of the earlier battle, vaguely hinting to trainers who might pass by later that a fierce fight had once taken place here.
"Mr. Red, fortunately we had your help today, otherwise Articuno's condition might have…"
Lorelei looked worriedly at the now-recovered Articuno, gently patting her proud chest, relieved that Articuno was safe.
"My treatment fee isn't cheap," Red said leisurely, taking out three Poké Balls and recalling Crimson Gyarados, Snorlax, and Kadabra.
"What? Could it be that you can't resist the temptation of a mature older woman like me?" Lorelei teased, mimicking Ariana's earlier behavior as she slowly placed her hand on her chest and tilted her head coyly at Red.
"Put away your meaningless teasing, Elite Four Lorelei!"
Red frowned, looking displeased at Lorelei in front of him. Was he really that worth being flirted with by these two mature women?
"How should I put it? I just find teasing a cool, aloof genius boy like you quite interesting," Lorelei said helplessly, waving her hand as she explained, ignoring Red's darkened expression.
"My condition for repayment is simple—please let Articuno battle with one of my Pokémon."
Red slowly removed the only Ultra Ball at his waist and looked seriously at Lorelei and Articuno.
"I more or less understand the vague relationship between you two, so I want to challenge you as the trainer of Zapdos—Miss Lorelei, the trainer of Articuno!"
"Zapdos?!" Lorelei looked at Red in shock. "I didn't expect that at such a young age, you'd already have the strength to control Zapdos."
"There's some luck involved too," Red said modestly, touching his cap.
Red stepped forward to Lorelei. Under her awkward and puzzled gaze, he placed his hand on her arm. His eyes then glowed with a deep blue light as he used Teleport.
In an instant, Red, Lorelei, and Articuno arrived at the shore of Seafoam Islands, far from the narrow icy cave.
"Although part of it is out of personal desire, I hope to have a true battle with Articuno under this vast sky. With Articuno's proud nature, I believe it wouldn't want to rely on the cave's environment to defeat Zapdos."
"It's your turn, Zapdos!"
Red forcefully threw the Ultra Ball he had already prepared. As the dazzling white light faded, a pillar of lightning reaching the heavens suddenly appeared in the sky.
With thunderclouds gathering, a Pokémon with yellow plumage appeared—black ring-shaped feathers around its eyes, a long orange pointed beak, and wings and tail covered in numerous sharp, spike-like feathers. Black feathers lined the backs of its wings and the inner side of its tail feathers.
Its crest was formed entirely by a cluster of sharp feathers. Its legs were earthy yellow, with no feathers on its thighs, and four toes extended from its feet.
A Pokémon once revered in ancient times as the god of thunder—Zapdos—had appeared!
"When the sky darkens and lightning strikes endlessly, this legendary Pokémon will appear…" Lorelei murmured, mesmerized by Zapdos' majestic entrance. "The legendary thunder god truly lives up to its reputation…"
Powerful bolts of lightning kept striking down along the shore. The pressure released by Zapdos made Articuno—also one of the Three Sacred Birds—feel uneasy, its body trembling uncontrollably.
(How is this possible?! We're both part of the Three Sacred Birds, yet I feel an inexplicable fear toward this Zapdos?!)
Articuno shook its head desperately, trying to momentarily forget its fear.
"Miss Lorelei, let's have a battle between legendary Pokémon trainers!"
Red looked seriously at the hesitant Lorelei and spoke in a deep voice.
Unlike the clear trainer-Pokémon relationship between Red and Zapdos, the relationship between Lorelei and Articuno was more like that of friends.
So asking Lorelei, as a friend, to suddenly command Articuno made the thoughtful Lorelei feel somewhat nervous.
However, Articuno had far fewer concerns. It turned its head toward Lorelei and let out a few low cries, signaling its desire to fight alongside her and completely defeat the taunting Zapdos before them.
"Miss Lorelei, since Articuno is asking like this, you shouldn't dampen its enthusiasm," Red said with a slight smirk.
"Articuno, let's fight together!"
After Red's encouragement, Lorelei finally let go of her last hesitation and looked resolutely at Red beside her.
"Come, Pokémon Trainer Red. Articuno and I will defeat you together!"
"When this pebble hits the ground, our battle begins."
Red explained as he tossed a small stone upward.
Three seconds later, the sound of the pebble hitting the ground rang out, and both Zapdos and Articuno unleashed their moves simultaneously.
A high-voltage current burst instantly from Zapdos' body, like countless lightning serpents devouring everything as they rushed toward Articuno.
Knowing it couldn't evade the current, Articuno simply used Ice Beam, clashing head-on with Zapdos' Thunderbolt.
In an instant, the two attacks collided and exploded violently. Both Zapdos and Articuno flapped their massive wings, launching into close combat.
Because Articuno also possessed the Pressure Ability, it indirectly canceled out the effect of Zapdos' Pressure.
But Lorelei and Articuno didn't know one thing—Zapdos also possessed an even more outstanding second Ability: Lightning Rod.
"Zapdos, use Steel Wing!" Red commanded.
"Articuno, use Steel Wing as well!" Lorelei ordered.
The massive wings of both Pokémon glowed with dazzling silver light. The sound of repeated collisions echoed through the sky as Zapdos and Articuno continuously used their wings to suppress each other.
"Articuno, now use Ice Shard!"
Articuno emitted bone-chilling cold, instantly creating a massive chunk of ice that struck Zapdos' chest at close range. Fortunately, Zapdos released electricity in time, shattering the ice's force.
"Zapdos, use Drill Peck!"
Zapdos' sharp beak spun rapidly, striking Articuno's vital point in one blow. The impact caused Articuno to cry out in pain.
To avoid being affected by Articuno's chilling aura, Zapdos quickly distanced itself after the brief spinning attack and released another surge of electricity, using Thunderbolt again.
"Articuno, use Agility to dodge the current!" Lorelei commanded, her eyes showing slight tension—not only due to her first coordination with Articuno, but also because of her shock at Zapdos' terrifying strength.
Lorelei hadn't expected that two Pokémon of the same Three Sacred Birds would differ so greatly in power.
She had once assumed Red had captured Zapdos months ago and formed a strong bond with it.
But her keen eye occasionally noticed slight missteps between Red and Zapdos, suggesting that this might also be their first battle together.
(Terrifying battle talent!)
In her first battle with Red, Lorelei experienced his absolute talent in Pokémon battles. This terrifying talent even suppressed an experienced Elite Four trainer like her.
(A born fighter!)
This was Lorelei's instinctive judgment of Red at this moment.